Topic: Does it fit? – Hearing Protector Fit Testing and Ambient Noise This webinar will be recorded. 

No CEU credits of any kind will be offered for viewing the recorded version of this webinar. 

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When: July 24, 2024 at 2:00pm ET

CEUs: 1-hour CEU (AAA and 0.1 ASHA CEU)

About the Webinar: Conducting hearing protector fit testing (HPFT) in the workplace is a recognized best practice and strongly encouraged by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Hearing Conservation Association, and the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation. There are a variety of tools and methods available to conduct hearing protector fit testing. Which one will work best for you and your workplace situation depends on a variety of factors including space available, speed of testing, accessibility to the space available for both workers and testing staff, and noise levels in the testing environment. This webinar will briefly discuss the process of conducting HPFT and different methods and user case scenarios for HPFT. Instructors will then discuss the challenges of conducting HPFT in the workplace, including challenges with excessive noise in the testing environment, by sharing experiences using different methods of testing in a variety of non-clinical environments. The recommended and reasons for maximum permissible ambient noise levels (MPANLS) when conducting HPFT will then be discussed for the different testing methodologies. The instructor panel will then respond to questions from the audience regarding HPFT.

Presenters: James (Jesse) A. Norris, PhD, Jeremy Federman, PhD, CCC-A, Stephanie Karch, J. Andrew Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A

James (Jesse) A. Norris, PhD: Dr. Norris earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering through a collaborative program between Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University. After completing his PhD, he joined Creare, an engineering firm in Hanover, NH, specializing in research and development. At Creare, Dr. Norris applied expertise in signal processing, mechanical design, and software development on various projects. Notably, he led the development of a handheld laser scanning system for inspecting F35 aircraft. This involved travel to multiple manufacturing and maintenance facilities. At Creare, he’d also been involved in hearing assessment and protection, and was surprised by the widespread incorrect use of earplugs. Stemming from an NIH project led by Dr. Odile Clavier, they developed the Wireless Audiometric Hearing Test System (WAHTS). The WAHTS was designed to conduct hearing and earplug fit testing outside of traditional sound booths. Since 2016, Dr. Norris has been an advocate for the development and validation of technologies like the WAHTS and the advancement of best practices for “boothless” audiometry. In 2021, he left Creare to lead the transition of WAHTS from research into a product, aiming to significantly enhance hearing assessment and protection throughout our lives. View Financial Disclosure.

Jeremy Federman, PhD, CCC-A: Dr. Jeremy Federman leads the multi-disciplinary Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory’s Regional Hearing Conservation Division mission to expand, diversify, and execute Navy medical research regarding (a) effects of continuous and impulse noise exposure, (b) human auditory perception and production, and (c) speech communications/intelligibility. This includes comprehensive road mapping and oversight of the division’s RDT&E portfolio with an annual budget of $1.3 million. Current projects include Viability and Deployability of Hearing Protector Fit-Testing within the U.S. Department of Navy (DON), viability of boothless audiometry in the DON, small arms impulse noise abatement, and the effects of head-worn devices on auditory sound localization. Federman received his Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics February, 2024 from University of Southern Maine, and his Masters in Audiology and PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. View Financial Disclosure.

Stephanie Karch: Stephanie Karch is a research audiologist for the Regional Hearing Conservation Program of Record at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL). Her research and scientific publications cover a wide range of topics including (but not limited to) hearing protector fit training, hearing protector fit testing, auditory injury and deployment-related mild traumatic brain injury, and tinnitus treatment options. At NSMRL, her work focuses on the prevention and mitigation of acute auditory injury and noise induced hearing loss in both Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Her current research interests include investigating the application and viability of novel technology and clinical tools to assess auditory and hearing protector function in dynamic and austere military occupational environments. Dr. Karch received her clinical doctorate and PhD from Gallaudet University, completed an ORISE Postdoctoral fellowship at the US Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competency in Audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. View Financial Disclosure.

J. Andrew Merkley, AuD, CCC-A, CPS/A is an occupational audiologist with over 25 years of experience in both clinical and occupational audiology.  He currently works as a contract research administrator with the Defense Health Agency Hearing Center of Excellence.  He holds a Master of Science in Communicative Disorders from Utah State University and a Doctor of Audiology from Central Michigan University.  Dr. Merkley's professional associations include the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (AHSA), the Military Audiology Association (MAA) and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA).  In addition, Dr. Merkley represents the Military Audiology Association on the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) and currently serves as the Council Chair.  He holds the certificate of clinical competence in Audiology (CCC-A), is a certified CAOHC Course Director (CD) and a CAOHC certified Professional Supervisor (CPS/A). View Financial Disclosure. 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Define a standard threshold shift (STS) as defined by OSHA.
2. Describe work-relatedness per OSHA’s record-keeping rules (29 CFR 1904.5).
3. Describe OSHA’s basis for determining recordability on the OSHA Form 300.
4. Identify factors which should and should not be considered in determining work-relatedness.
5. Apply this knowledge in assessing potentially recordable losses.

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